Paul McCartney’s Favorite Songs: The Music That Influenced the Beatles’ Sound

Paul McCartney is, to many, a musician’s musician. He’s been forthright about his songwriting processes and the music he was particularly fond of while part of The Beatles. He’s also listed a few songs here and there by other artists that he loved. Let’s take a look at just a few of Paul McCartney’s favorite songs that likely inspired The Beatles!

1. “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys inspired a ton of bands in the 20th century, one of which was (quite obviously) The Beatles. Paul McCartney was pretty direct about how much the song “God Only Knows” from the famous 1966 album Pet Sounds affected him on a personal level, as well as musically.

“‘God Only Knows’ is one of the few songs that reduces me to tears every time I hear it,” McCartney once said of the song. “It’s really just a love song, but it’s brilliantly done. It shows the genius of Brian Wilson. I’ve actually performed it with him, and I’m afraid to say that during the soundcheck, I broke down. It was just too much to stand there singing this song that does my head in and to stand there singing it with Brian.”

2. “Nature Boy” by Nat King Cole/The King Cole Trio

McCartney is a big Nat King Cole fan, and even covered the classic tune “The Very Thought Of You” in a duet with Tony Bennett years ago. Many associate that track with jazz musician Nat King Cole. However, the song itself is a pop standard that was written in the 1930s. That being said, there is another Nat King Cole classic that McCartney has said inspired him.

“I’ve always loved the song called ‘Nature Boy’,” said McCartney. “‘There was a boy, a very strange and gentle boy…’ He loves nature, and ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ was inspired by that song. I’d always loved nature, and when Linda and I got together, we discovered we had this deep love of nature in common.”

3. “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley

“Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley scrambled the brains of a lot of soon-to-be diehard fans of Presley in 1956. So, it only makes sense that this classic rock and roll song inspired a few major musicians in the middle of the 20th century. Specifically, McCartney said that this particular song contributed to his love of music. Presley would ultimately have a few bad things to say about The Beatles, but it didn’t seem to bother McCartney all that much.

“It was Elvis who really got me hooked on beat music,” said McCartney. “When I heard ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ I thought, this is it.”

Photo via Shutterstock (10832374a)

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.